BRAZILIAN great Ronaldo will open 30 soccer schools in China, the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year said Monday.

    The franchises will be mainly located in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, Xinhua said, with the former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker expected to be present when the first opens in the Chinese capital in November.

    The move comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping, a soccer fan, attempts to resurrect the image of the sport at home after years of corruption in the past.

    The revamp has gathered pace with the Chinese Super League experiencing a boom in investment by local businessman with several Brazilian internationals, like Robinho and Diego Tardelli, joining top flight clubs.

    Ronaldo, 39, who won two World Cups with Brazil, said the speed of development and China’s ambition had been factors behind his move.

    “Besides business factor, the major reason for me to open soccer school in China is because there are lots of soccer fans and players in the country, and Chinese Government and civil organization also focus on soccer development,” Ronaldo told Xinhua. “I hope my method of soccer training could help develop Chinese soccer. I think Chinese soccer has the mass base and determination, but it may still lack the proper concept and training method.”

    Part of the government’s ambitious goals included dragging both the men’s and women’s national teams to the top echelons of the game.

    While the women were knocked out at the quarterfinals of the World Cup earlier this year, the men have only competed at the finals once in 2002.

    (SD-Agencies)